How to travel between Victoria and Vancouver on public transit,

Travelling between Victoria and Vancouver on public transit is straightforward, but it is multi-step, requires at least three types of fares, and is not suited for the impatient and the easily annoyed. Here are condensed instructions to travel downtown to downtown, followed by much greater, judgemental detail.

On the other side of the Strait of Georgia, at Tsawwassen terminal, board Bus 620, which takes you to Bridgeport station, which is the last stop. At Bridgeport, transfer to the Canada Line to catch a light rail train to downtown Vancouver, to Vancouver International Airport, or to Richmond’s shopping and business district. (You can also catch a variety of buses at Bridgeport, including Bus 407 to Steveston Harbour and Bus 351 to White Rock.)

To go back to Victoria, do the reverse.

Major changes since the 2017 update

• Fares have increased in Metro Vancouver; for example, it’s $4.20 now for a cash two-zone fare, up from $4. (You’ll need a two-zone fare to get from Tsawwassen to downtown Vancouver.)
• The Bus 620 stop at Bridgeport has moved to Bay 11.
• Lanes have been painted on the pavement at Bridgeport to help people line up for the 620. The lineup area is, thoughtfully, under the elevated station platform and tracks, which sort of protects you from rain.
• Luggage racks have been added to more buses on the 620 route, and people are using them. But a lot still don’t, preferring to keep their giant luggage close. (Taking up aisle and seat space, I’d grumble, if I were a grumbler.)
• You can tap your credit card to pay at bus fare boxes and station gates in Metro Vancouver. (But you’ll pay more for the convenience.)
• Double deckers are on order in Metro Vancouver. High-volume routes are currently being served by articulated (or bendy) buses.
• More signs have been posted at Tsawwassen ferry terminal to help guide first-time bus riders.
• I haven’t noticed any major changes on the Victoria side. There’s the promise, this winter, of real-time bus locations being posted online, providing you with information to make a good guess at when the bus will show up at your stop (as opposed to the scheduled arrival).

How much it’ll cost

The journey, under ideal conditions, takes four hours from downtown Victoria to downtown Vancouver, including bus, ferry, train and waiting. The bus and train portion (the ferry fare is separate), depending on day and time and whether you need to make transfers, can cost as little as $4.55 one way — $2.25 for the Victoria bus if you use a ticket, plus $2.30 if you use a Compass card to ride bus and train in Vancouver. You’ll only get this low price if you don’t need to transfer buses in Victoria, and if you’re travelling in Metro Vancouver on a weekend or after 6:30 p.m. on a weekday. (All fare examples are for adults as of summer 2018.)

The most expensive way is by paying with cash on a weekday before 6:30 p.m. — topping out at $12.15 — $5 in Victoria if you need to take more than one bus (no free transfers) and $7.15 in Metro Vancouver. Since the spring, riders have been able to tap their credit cards to pay their Vancovuder fares. If you use a credit card, you’re charged the cash price. Using a credit card or cash is more expensive than using the prepaid Compass fare card (more details about Compass card below). For example, if you tap a credit card, the ride from Tsawwassen ferry terminal to downtown Vancouver can be as much as $7.15. Using a Compass card, it’s $3.35.

Add ferry fare of $17.20 (a little less if fuel rebate is in effect; even more discounting if there’s a promotion on).

In summary, you’ll save the most money on public transit if you use a prepaid ticket on the Victoria side and a Compass fare card on the Vancouver side.

Journey to Vancouver

I originally wrote these instructions for visiting relatives, and then adapted them for a blog post back in January 2014. A lot has changed since 2014, so I’m offering this update.

If you don’t mind sitting or standing really close to other people, are tolerant of lineups, can put up with line-jumpers, have time to spare in case connnections don’t work, are a touch cheap, and can cheerfully shrug when the line you’ve been standing in for 20 minutes disintegrates into a dash to be first at the bus door, then public transit is for you. The disintegration of lines doesn’t happen much. Transit riders tend to stick to etiquette. But I’ve observed line jumping often enough that it deserves a mention.

(Basics for out-of-towners: Swartz Bay terminal is on Vancouver Island and is entry point for Greater Victoria. Tsawwassen terminal is on the mainland and is entry point for Metro Vancouver. Large car ferries sail daily between the two terminals, the first sailing is usually at 7 a.m., the last at 9 p.m. Service is on the odd hour during slower times; sailings are added for busier times.)

Here’s a sample trip from Victoria. To ride the 9 a.m. ferry on a weekday, catch Bus 70 at 7:44 a.m. at the Government and Superior stop, or at 8:02 a.m. at the Vernon and Saanich stop. Bus 70 is scheduled to arrive at Swartz Bay at 8:39 a.m., giving you just enough time to buy a ticket and board the 9 a.m. ferry.

Pay a $2.50 cash fare. It’s $2.25 per trip if you buy a sheet of 10 tickets. No extra charge if you have a pass.

If you need to ride more than one B.C. Transit bus in Greater Victoria to get to the ferry terminal, you’ll have to pay two fares and ask the driver for a day pass. Transfers are not free. It’s $5 cash for a day pass, or two tickets ($4.50). If you’re coming back the same day, buy a day pass. Day passes are only available on board buses. (There’s been grumbling about this system.)

You can usually get a seat, especially if the bus is a doubledecker. I’ve only had to stand for the entire trip once. There is no provision for luggage. Put your bag on your lap, or if it’s big, put it next to you on your seat (and try to ignore the glares if the bus is full). Don’t let your stuff completely block the aisle.

Get off at Swartz Bay terminal. Enter the terminal building and either line up to buy your ferry ticket from a cashier or line up to use one of the ticket machines, which are to your right as soon as you enter the terminal. Go to the cashier if you are paying with cash. Ticket machines are not necessarily faster because people can be fumbly at them. The machines take credit cards and debit cards. You can insert and type your PIN, tap, or swipe.

The walk-on ferry fare is $17.20 one way, but might be a little less if a fuel rebate is in effect.

Board the ferry when called, following the crowd.

The ferry journey takes about 95 minutes.

Locate the ferry’s departure doors shortly after you board to avoid last-minute scurrying. Signs point the way.

To ride public transit in the Vancouver area, it’s convenient to have a Compass fare card. You load dollar amounts onto the card, and it’s deducted when you tap the card on a reader to board TransLink buses, SkyTrain, Canada Line or SeaBus. More details at the TransLink website.

If you don’t have a Compass fare card, you can buy one from the ferry’s gift shop. One card costs $16. Of that amount, $6 is a deposit for the card and $10 is fare value. The adult card is blue; there’s a lower-fare orange “concession” card for people 65 and older, and people 18 and under.

Compass fare cards are also sold at machines in the Tsawwassen ferry terminal arrivals area. To avoid lineups and anxiety about missing the bus, buy your Compass card at the ferry gift shop.

If you’re going to make this trip more than two times, it’s worth your while to buy a Compass card.

When the ferry nears Tsawwassen, if you want to increase your chances of getting a seat on the first bus, line up at the departure doors to be among the first to get off.

On the Spirit of Vancouver Island and the Spirit of British Columbia, the departure doors for Tsawwassen are at the front of the ferry, aka the bow. (You boarded at the back, aka the stern.)

It’s different on Coastal Celebration and Coastal Renaissance, which have bridges at both ends, so that the vessels don’t have to turn around when leaving port. Approaching Tsawwassen, you get off through doors at Stairwell 3, on the right side, facing the direction the ferry is sailing.

You might encounter Queen of New Westminster, an older ferry. I haven’t ridden it much, so you’re on your own.

Walk briskly off the ferry and through a series of walkways to get to the terminal exit. Buy your transit fare at a ticket machine if you didn’t buy on the ferry. Or pay cash on the bus. But the ticket you buy on the bus is only good for buses. You’ll need to buy another fare to ride the Canada Line. To save money, buy your fare from the machine or on the ferry. I’m repeating myself. But I hate to see people pay way more than they need to. (More fare details below.)

Outside, two bendy buses will likely be parked to your left. But you’ll need to veer right, joining the lineup for Bus 620. In a few minutes, one of the bendy buses will pull up for people to board. Double-deckers are being added to the fleet, so you might see one of them.

This part can be vexing. Even in pouring rain, the first bendy bus will often sit out of service for interminable minutes while a long line forms.

If you’re not near the front of the line, would like to get a seat, and can spare 10 minutes, let people go ahead of you and ride the second bendy bus. Being first in line for the second bus can be a little tricky because the line sometimes disintegrates and the entry door is mobbed. Both buses travel the same route.

At busy times, there might be a third bendy bus. There might occasionally be just one bus. In that case, of course, don’t hang back.

I like to sit at the back in the side-facing seats because there’s more leg room. Luggage can go into a small area at the back window, but it’s often filled before I get there. So you’ll likely need to tuck your luggage at your feet or put it on your lap. It’s bad form to put luggage on a seat if the bus is full. Luggage racks have been added to some buses.

The trip to Bridgeport station takes 35 to 40 minutes, depending on traffic. There are a few stops along the way. But most of the time, you’re on the move.

At Bridgeport, get off the bus and enter the station, go up the escalator or stairs (there’s also a small elevator), tap your Compass card or ticket on the reader at the fare gate, go up another level and wait on the platform for your train. Take the Waterfront train to go downtown. The journey takes roughly 20 minutes.

You can also board the Richmond train for Richmond or YVR Airport for Vancouver International Airport.

(If you paid cash to board the bus, you’ll need to buy another ticket to board the Canada Line train.)

Bay 11 was redesigned big-time in 2018 — there are painted lanes for people to line up in. I have not observed line-jumping since those lines were painted. Before the lanes, people also lined up, but it was sometimes helter skelter.

When ferries are running, there tends to be a bus leaving at or close to the top the hour. There might also be a bus that leaves at roughly 43 to 45 minutes past the hour. That bus will give you a little more cushion against traffic delays. The ferry does not wait for late buses.

When you arrive at Tsawwassen terminal, buy your ferry ticket from either a person or a machine. Go up the stairs or escalator and follow the walkway. Or, if there is plenty of time until the ferry leaves, stay on the ground floor and walk outside, across the parking lot (watch out for traffic) to Tsawwassen terminal’s food court.

If you skipped the ferry terminal food court and get hungry, consider a visit to the buffet if you’re on one of the Spirit vessels or on Coastal Celebration. It can be a better deal and healthier than eating burger, fries and cola in the cafeteria. The best buffet deal is on the 3 p.m. sailings, when it’s around $14 for an abbreviated but still extensive offering that includes hot soups, salad bar, desserts and beverages. There’s no buffet on Coastal Renaissance or Queen of New Westminster, but there’s a pay by weight salad bar. You can get a decent amount of food for around $10.
Details about Pacific Buffet, including menus and prices, are here.

As the ferry approaches Swartz Bay, go to the departure doors to be among the first off if you want a good shot at getting a bus seat.

On the Spirit vessels, you exit from the rear doors, near the buffet.

On the Coastal vessels, go to Stairwell 1, and exit through the doors on the left side in the direction the ferry is travelling.

A few people will circumvent the system by getting off on the car deck, which often allows them to leave the vessel before people on the passenger deck. But there are announcements urging people to exit via the passenger deck.

As you leave the Swartz Bay terminal building, you’ll likely see buses waiting to your right. (Though, sometimes there won’t be a bus in sight.)

Join the line. You may not be able to board immediately because the bus driver is taking a break.

Again, Bus 70 is the express. Bus 72 is the milk run. You might see the infrequently-offered Bus 76, which is an express bus to the University of Victoria, travelling along the Pat Bay Highway and then McKenzie Avenue. There are also buses going to North Saanich.

If it looks like a seat won’t be available on Bus 70, and you want a seat, hang back for Bus 72, which tends to be less crowded.

Cash fare is $2.50 or use a ticket. Or use two tickets (or $5 cash) to get a day pass if you need to transfer to another bus.

– – –

The confusing zone system in Metro Vancouver

When riding the public transit system in Metro Vancouver, you’ll pay more if you cross zones. There are three zones. You’ll pay a two-zone fare even if you just board at a stop, cross a zone boundary, and get off at the next stop. But you’ll pay for just one zone of travel for a multi-kilometre ride if you don’t cross any zone boundaries.

At ticket machines, zones appear to be the biggest thing that trips people up. They don’t know how many zones they’ll need. The system operator is aware of this. At Tsawwassen terminal, they’ve posted a sign advising that a trip downtown requires a two-zone fare. But a lot of people miss the sign, and they take way longer than they need to at the machines puzzling over the zones. Bus drivers will occasionally come in to lend a hand.

TransLink is discussing a switch from the zone system to one based on distance. I haven’t seen any details yet about how this would work.

An overview of fares, as of late summer 2018

Greater Victoria

Cash fare: $2.50, no transfers
Day pass: $5, unlimited riding on day of purchase, only sold on buses, exact change, can’t buy in advance.
Sheet of 10 tickets: $22.50; that’s $2.25 per ticket; 2 tickets will buy a day pass. Buy ticket sheets at grocery stores and convenience stores.

It’s way more complex in Greater Vancouver, with its zones and other stuff. Some key points:
• Travelling across zones will cost you more money during peak hours.
• The trip from Tsawwassen to downtown is a two zone trip.
• Except, if you travel exclusively by bus, everything is one zone, one cash price: $2.95. But travelling by bus only to downtown Vancouver is not efficient.
• Plus, there’s this quirkiness. If you pay for a bus fare in cash when boarding at Tsawwassen, you’ll have to pay again to board the Canada Line. Your bus fare won’t get you onto the rail system.

Bottom line: you pay the least if you use a Compass card or Compass ticket. You pay the most if you use cash, or tap a credit card at a farebox. So, either get a Compass fare card (instructions above) or pay your fare at the machines in Tsawwassen terminal, not as you board the bus.

Weekdays after 6:30 p.m. and all day Saturday, Sunday, holidays:
All zones $2.95 cash. But double that if you start a trip on a bus by paying cash, and then transfer to rail. (Yes, a touch complicated.) Or $2.30 using Compas

Another way to do it

It’s more comfortable and less aggravating if you ride the privately run B.C. Ferries Connector bus. Board at the downtown Victoria bus terminal on Douglas Street near Belleville Street. The bus takes you onto the ferry, and you get off the bus. As you near Tsawwassen terminal, you get back on and ride into Vancouver. There are several dropoff points, including downtown hotels, before the bus ends its journey at the Vancouver bus station. Minimal fuss, plenty of luggage space, wi-fi, a seat for all passengers. Depending on how you’re comparing, it costs roughly 2 to 3 times as much to ride in luxury. Fares are higher for non-B.C. residents, lower for students and children. You are asked to reserve.

A big down side is that in low season, there are only three Connector bus trips a day. In late spring and summer, there are up to eight trips a day.

The extra cost for the Connector bus could be worth it on a day when you want to avoid crowds and can’t face the uncertainty of whether you’ll get a seat.

If the Connector bus isn’t full, you can buy a seat after you board the ferry; tickets are sold in the first half hour of sailing. You could, for example, use public transit to get to Swartz Bay, ride the ferry, then ride the Connector into Vancouver.

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